Reader Letters | Support Bryant-Hamilton

May 14, 2010

Councilwoman Cheri Bryant-Hamilton is a dedicated public servant who has served the constituents in District 5 without fail. Her accomplishments and love for her community are demonstrated through the creation of the District 5 Youth Advisory Council; the West Louisville Crime Prevent Council: and establishing a community service award honoring former Portland Activist Molly Leonard.

She has fought the tough issues: mobilizing neighbors in Shawnee to campaign to prohibit alcohol sales in six precincts; toughen animal control ordinances; and secured a $1 million “Weed and Seed” grant through the Department of Justice.

Councilwoman Hamilton wants what every other citizen in District 5 wants, a strong leader, who will listen and isn't afraid to act on the issues that effect their community. Cheri Bryant-Hamilton has proven she IS that leader and will continue represent the 5th District with the pride and distinction it has come to expect. Please vote on May 18.

ELIZABETH KINNEY HOFFMAN

Metro Council Majority Caucus

Burke's ideas

After reading the headline in Monday's newspaper about Jefferson District Court not taking any action for 15 years on recommendations made by the National Center for State Courts, I have to seriously question the C-J's endorsement of Stephanie Pearce Burke for District Court Judge. It looked like the main reason the C-J endorsed her was because she had ideas for improving district court. But, Monday's article doesn't make that seem like such a good reason.

Even assuming that she has any new ideas that haven't been brought up in the past 15 years, that article makes it clear that actually implementing new ideas is an almost impossible task that requires the cooperation of 17 judges, and the county attorneys, and God knows who else. It seems to me that the C-J should base its endorsement on the qualifications of a candidate for judge to actually do the job they are elected for day in and day out, and not on their ability to dream up some pie-in-the-sky ideas for the whole court system that will probably never happen.

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BECKY HERMANN

Louisville 40245

Campaign tactics?

A cartoon on Wednesday lambasting Jim King's shameless and nauseating advertising campaign hits the nail on the head, and perhaps not even hard enough. Even for those who know little of Jim King's uninspiring politics or odious personal history, the way he is conducting his campaign is enough to turn anyone's stomach.

A relative of mine has chosen to volunteer with Greg Fischer's campaign and has been tasked with making calls to registered Democrats in the area, encouraging support and offering yard signs. Several have candidly informed her that Jim King's people took it upon themselves to stick signs in their yards, though they never requested them and did not support him. When she mentioned this to her fellow volunteers they affirmed similar stories. Personally I've seen King's signs at several houses I know to be vacant or abandoned, in public or unowned spaces (like parks and traffic islands) and surreptitiously planted on the outskirts of lots occupied by national chain businesses (like the Speedway a block from my home) whom I doubt are in the habit of endorsing local political candidates. I'm sure King counts on the deniability of these situations in which, no doubt, unspecified campaign workers just got a little overzealous.

Meanwhile, numerous Greg Fischer supporters have contacted his campaign to report that their yard signs have been stolen and request replacements. I'm sure Jim King's people have nothing to do with that either, and if they do it was certainly without official approval.

In truth, all evidence suggests that King's campaign is determined to engage in whatever cheap underhanded gimmicks they can to make him look more popular than he actually is.

ABBY POLLARD

Louisville 40217

Back Darlene Price

A vote for Darlene F. Price for U.S. Senate is a vote for taking our government back. Darlene Price has experienced first-hand the depth of corruption in our government. This corruption is more dangerous than the trumped up threat of terrorism that both parties hold up to scare us into submission. Break the cycle of corruption and crony capitalism that is bringing this great Constitutional Republic to ruin. Send Darlene Price and like-minded candidates on both sides of the aisle to Washington.

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If you like what we've got in Washington, then vote for the usual favorites, the ones who take corporate money to pay for those worthless ads. If you want to send a message to Washington, vote for candidates of integrity, courage and principle like Darlene Price. Send a message to Washington that says the vote is stronger than all the tainted corporate fiat money that greases all the palms of opportunistic politicians. A vote for anything else is a wasted vote. A vote that will keep us mired in the politics of dysfunction.

CONNIE MORRIS

West Point, Ky. 40177

Vote for Webb

Derwin Webb is ready to lead! Derwin “exudes the confidence of a leader” because he is an experienced leader. Yet, he remains sincere in his approach to helping and serving others. Derwin has my vote, not only because he is my husband, but because I know what he can do for our city.

When Derwin was president of KMBC he was instrumental in creating policies that made opportunities available for local businesses. As an attorney, he not only represents the interests of his clients, but he also created the Legal Eagles program for hundreds of students in JCPS. Legal Eagles brought classroom teachers and professionals in law and government together to help students learn the values and responsibilities of citizenship. He has even helped neighbors fight for the fair and humane treatment of their pets.

Derwin's balance of skills and compassion is what our community needs. He is known for his ability to truly listen to the needs of others and his ability to pull in key people in order to get things done. His involvement in higher education, government, and non-profits gives him the advantage of viewing the issues from multiple perspectives and working in the spirit of collaboration to solve problems. Among all of these things, Derwin is a loving and dedicated husband and father. Our children have learned the value of hard work and cooperation from Derwin's example.

We are all very proud of our choice for Metro Council, District 17, Derwin Lamont Webb.

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AIMEE WEBB

Louisville 40241

Bradshaw for county attorney

Your endorsement in the Jefferson County Attorney's race was disappointing. You want the electorate to cast their vote for Mike O'Connell; an old school political appointee that has no professional experience managing other attorneys, has a controversial abrupt ending to his judicial career, strong arms donations out of his employees, has definite anger management issues, has difficulty dealing with people and has an Elliot Spitzer style bully pulpit appetite that is rife with opportunity for corruption.

Instead, I believe the voting public should choose Glenda Bradshaw as their next Jefferson County Attorney. Glenda Bradshaw is Mike's opposite in almost every way.

Glenda Bradshaw has a 25-year history prosecuting violent criminals, something her opponent hasn't done in his mostly modest private practice work. Glenda Bradshaw helped write the grant that allowed the creation of the domestic violence intake center, a center that she later toiled tirelessly to raise additional funding to expand. It is shameful that her opponent is taking credit for this center, which he had no role in creating or improving whatsoever. He is also touting the DUI conviction rate in his ads. I am glad that he is proud of that, because Glenda Bradshaw is the one who created the unit, hand-picked the best and the brightest attorneys for that staff, and fought to clean up the DUI case processing and prosecutions over the last 10 years. This is yet another achievement that Ms. Bradshaw's opponent had no professional connection with whatsoever.

I think the voters will see through his thin resume and even thinner achievement and choose the professional with the most appropriate prosecutorial experience and 25 years of public service — Ms. Glenda Bradshaw.